Chicken Katsu (or Tofu Katsu!)

DESCRIPTION:

How to make Chicken Katsu – A Japanese Style fried chicken breaded with panko and sesame seeds. Serve over rice, veggies or as a sandwich or burger! A simple easy recipe the whole family will love. Vegetarians- use tofu!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 – 2 lbs chicken breasts (or sub Firm Tofu)

salt and pepper (roughly 1 teaspoon each, per pound of chicken)

Katsu Station (3 wide bowls)

1/2 cup flour (or sub cornstarch or rice flour)

2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder (or onion powder)

2 eggs, whisked

1 teaspoon soy sauce or squirt sriracha (for heat) – both optional

1 cup Japanese Panko (American bread crumbs don’t work the same here!!!)

1–2 tablespoon sesame seeds

1/2 teaspoon salt

3-4 tablespoons oil for searing- coconut, peanut, vegetable

Serve as a “burger” in a sourdough bun with mashed avocado (Asian guac) or Sriracha aioli, with Asian Slaw or kimchi. Serve as an entree with rice or quinoa and a veg. Serve over the Asian slaw or over greens as a salad.

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350F

Slice or pound chicken breasts down into 1/2 -3/4-inch thick filets. Season both sides with salt and pepper- this is important. Set aside. See notes for TOFU.

Make your Katsu Station gathering 3 wide shallow bowls: In the first bowl, mix flour and garlic powder. In the second shallow bowl, whisk eggs adding a little splash of soy sauce or sriracha (for heat) if you like. In the third bowl (or plate) mix panko, sesame seeds, and salt.

Place all three bowls near the stove.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, dredge the seasoned chicken in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then coat in panko mixture. Place in the hot skillet. Repeat and fill the skillet.

Turn over when perfectly golden, about 4-5 minutes. Cook 3-4 more minutes until the other side is golden, then place these on a sheet pan in the 350 F oven to finish cooking through while you repeat with the second batch of chicken, adding more oil if necessary. (To keep them extra crispy you could place these on a rack, set overtop a sheet pan.) Bake until internal temp reaches 160F at the thickest part of the breast.

SERVE: Serve as a “burger” in a sourdough bun with mashed avocado (Asian guac) or Sriracha aioli, with Asian Slaw or kimchi. Serve as an entree with rice or quinoa and a veg. Serve over the Asian slaw or over greens as a salad.

NUTRITION:

Serving Size

Calories: 290

Sugar: 0.9 g

Sodium: 608.7 mg

Fat: 10.8 g

Saturated Fat: 2 g

Carbohydrates: 16.6 g

Fiber: 1 g

Protein: 30 g

Cholesterol: 129.2 mg